Fencing - the sport of speed, skill and dexterity; co-ordination, balance and flexibility; in attack and while defending.

Top fencers Rhys Melia and Tristan Rowcliffe

use CoolBoard to reach new heights.

(So what is fencing?)

(How CoolBoard helps)

Recently returned from the Fencing World Championships, Glen Golding coaches probably the best UK junior fencing squad.

We first met Glen and his top two students Rhys Melia and Tristan Rowcliffe way back in December. After just a minute of seeing CoolBoard in action, he knew it would help his students, but we wanted to know it was helping before officially sponsoring them.

Now, after a good few months of training and competitions Glen, Rhys and Tristan regularly train with their CoolBoards and are convinced of the benefits, so it's now official.

At present, Rhys is ranked no. 6 in the UK and Tristan is no. 17 - and that's the senior rankings when they are both of junior age! Rhys also recently won the UK Junior Championships. Both have made the tough decision to dedicate the next few years solely to fencing, working towards the 2012 Olympics - well done lads, much respect.

The CoolBoard team is right behind them, it's fantastic to see such UK talent coming up through the ranks preparing to take on the world for Team GB. It also leaves us with a lovely feeling to know CoolBoard is helping in all the ways it should.

Glen must have an ability for attracting talented fencers, and then to guide them forwards. His squad is full of shining examples, so we'll now be officially sponsoring the top four, and many of the squad will train on CoolBoards.

So look out for our sponsorship badges proudly showing on their lightening fast arms wherever they compete.

Rhys Melia playing left to right

So what is fencing?

We believe the BritishFencing.com say this better than we can..."The sword is one of the oldest of weapons and, as Egyptian frescoes circa 1200BC show, fencing is one of the oldest of sports.

The ability to demonstrate speed, skill and dexterity with a sword has always been considered an indication of manliness and throughout 17th and 18th century Europe duelling with rapiers settled 'matters of honour'.

The modern Olympic sport requires fencers to be of the fittest of athletes and have levels of skills which require many hours of dedicated training.

In learning the skills of attacking and defending with either the Foil, Epee or Sabre fencers develop good co-ordination, balance and flexibility which makes fencing training an ideal means of keeping fit for all ages and abilities."

And how does CoolBoard help?

The answer is - in many ways... as Rhys says, "it does what it say on the tin, and more!"

This is a list of benefits felt by Rhys and Tristan:

We've got to say, it's great when athletes such as Rhys and Tristan remark on the effectiveness of CoolBoard as a training tool. Coming from serious performers who train for many hours a day, it reinforces our research and beliefs, showing how useful CoolBoard is.